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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Whether you are a farmer or a gardener, there are many purposes for straw and hay through the fall and winter months. It can protect your ground, feed your livestock, and keep your furry friends warm in the barn. At Camdenton Farm and Garden, we keep plenty of straw and hay on hand so that you can use it for ANY of the purposes you need it for. Here are a few ways we think you’ll use it this season.

Protect From Frost

Mulching your garden in the winter can be a great way to keep your bulbs and plants warm. A steady temperature will keep the plant in dormancy and prevent it from triggering new growth during a brief warm spell. In fact, the tender new growth too soon will just result in more winter die back. You can take the straw and spread it around and on top of your plants. If you want to add several layers, you can use leaves from your landscaping by running the lawn mower over them a few times, and then spread them over your plants. Then finish off with a layer of straw for added warmth.

Feed Your Livestock

Straw and hay can be great options for feeding when planning your livestock's menu options through the winter. You will have to keep in mind that this isn't the only option, and it's not always the most nutritious. You'll want to also substitute with grain, salt blocks, and other mineral supplements. While many farmers will find ways to make their own hay, there are others who don't have the acreage available. That's why we provide hay at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Warm Your Critters

While straw and hay are great for supplemental nutrition and protecting your plants, but did you know that straw can also keep your livestock warm? From cows to chickens and horses to your dogs - a bed of straw is the perfect insulator against cooler temperatures. You'll want to clean it out on a regular basis to keep it from getting moist and spreading disease, but when the temps drop and your livestock needs a warm place to bed down - we've got the goods.

It's a great time of year to come out to Camdenton Farm and Garden! Not only do we have all of the supplies you need to keep your farm going this fall and winter, but we have a GREAT plant sale happening, too! Until November 1st, our plants are 25% off. If you buy $250 worth of plants you'll get 30% off, and if you take home $500 worth of plants you'll get 40% off! Come out and see us this week for your great deal on the plants you love.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

"First I shake the whole Apple tree, that the ripest might fall. Then I climb the tree and shake each limb, and then each branch and then each twig, and then I look under each leaf." - Martin Luther

Fall finally *fell* but that's not all that's falling these days! Do you have apples by the bushel and the peck? At Camdenton Farm and Garden, we are your go-to farm supply store at the Lake of the Ozarks, but we aren't just good for tools! Apple Day is October 21st, and in true farming fashion, we want to share a couple of delicious recipes with you to help make the most of those red delicious and enjoy them to the very last bite.

Preheat oven to 425 F. Trim beets leaving 1 inch of the stem. Coat lightly with olive oil. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet in the preheated oven. Roast until tender and easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes.

Slip off the skins with a paring knife and cut the stem. Dice beets in 1″ cubes.

Mix beets, chopped apple and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Transfer to a salad plate, top with chopped walnuts, crumbled feta cheese and a little bit of maple vinaigrette.

1. Peel the zest off the orange and lemon, being careful not to peel off the white pith (as this is very bitter). Cut all of the white pith off and discard, then cut the orange and lemon into slices (don’t worry about the seeds — they’ll be sieved out later).

2. Cut the apples into quarters.

3. Place the orange and lemon slices and peels into the slow-cooker pot along with the apples, cinnamon, ginger, all spice, cloves, vanilla extract and sugar. Pour in enough cold water to cover everything.

4. Turn the slow cooker to high, place the lid on and cook for three hours.

5. After three hours, use a potato masher to mash the fruit into the water, then place the lid back on and cook for a further 30-60 minutes.

6. Strain the liquid through a sieve into a large jug and serve immediately.

7. Alternatively you can cool, cover and refrigerate until needed. Simply reheat in a pan when ready to serve.

Enjoy the Season

Take some time this weekend to kick back and enjoy your harvest. Whip up some apple butter in the crockpot, put on some mulled cider, and enjoy the scents that come wafting from your home. Camdenton Farm and Garden hopes that you have a wonderful harvest season from your apples, whether you have one tree or ten. Need any fertilizing products or pruning tips from us? We're here and ready help! Come out to the Lake of the Ozarks farm supply store this weekend and say hi!

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Can you believe that October is already here - and almost halfway over at that! Fall is coming upon us in a very pleasant fashion, and we are excited to enjoy it all the way out to our gardens. While your to-do list will be tapering down in the fall and winter months, there are still things you can do to grow your garden and give it a great head start for next year. At Camdenton Farm and Garden, we have a few tips we would like to offer to help you with your Lake of the Ozarks garden!

Bring Out the Bulbs

After the first frost, you’ll want to start planting your spring-flowering bulbs. Do you know what you want to plant yet? Lucky for you, it hasn't frosted yet, so you have some time to pick out the bulbs that you would like to plant and start choosing locations. Don’t know where to start? Here are a few of the most popular bulbs that you could consider including:

Crocus

Daffodil

Tulip

Lily of the Valley

Hyacinth

Another thing to keep in mind is that many spring bulbs require dividing in order to keep them looking their best. Not all bulbs need to be divided though. Daffodils can last forever without any assistance from you, while tulips may start to fade after a few years. If you notice your established bed of bulbs is looking sparse and unattractive after a while, it could be a sign that you need to dig and divide your bulb bed!

Prepare for Pruning

If you have shrubs that are grown primarily for their foliage such as the barber and burning bush, you can start cutting them back. But don’t wait too long, because you don’t want to cut them back in very late autumn. This reason is because the new growth that starts after late-season pruning won’t harden off properly before winter.

Make It Mulch

Now is a great time to put new mulch down around your garden especially around your elephant ears and mums after the killing frost. You do not want to remove the dead mum growth, but you can add extra mulch to protect the crown. Need some mulch for your garden? We’ve got some at the best farm and garden store at the Lake of the Ozarks. From red mulch to chocolate mulch and even cedar mulch - we’ve got it all. Better yet, we deliver up to 5 cubic yards per load. Contact us for delivery rates, based on distance.

This is a great time to take a look at your garden and make some necessary adjustments to help create the best space for next year. At Camdenton Farm and Garden, we have all of the supplies you’ll need to create a beautiful space that can be enjoyed for years and years! Come out and take a look! We have a plant sale going on, as well - and you won’t want to miss it.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

You’ve worked so hard to protect your little saplings, and you’re not just going to let Autumn swoop in and damage them. Here at Camdenton Farm and Garden, we know how much work you put into planting, watering, fertilizing, and then harvesting from your fruit trees. Because you take such good care of them, NOW is the time to finish up some final details before the winter months set in. Here are a few tips from your local farm and garden store at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Keep Them Hydrated

You'll want to keep your fruit trees hydrated well through mid-October. The main reasons for this is to make sure that the fruit tree goes into the winter with a good moisture supply. You’ll want to make sure you that your tree is getting enough water to actually reach deep down into the root zone and not just dampen the soil close to the surface.

Rake Leaves

As the leaves fall, you’ll want to rake the leaves from underneath the trees and put them in areas away from the healthy fruit trees. This will assist in preventing leaf-borne diseases from recurring. It can also help reduce the habitat for mice - they can be very destructive to your trees. Keeping the grass cut also has a similar effect.

Pick Fruit Carefully

When you pick apples, the stem should remain on a picked apple, but if the leaf spurs are breaking off with the stem, it’s likely that you’re picking it too soon. One tip is to grasp the apple from the bottom and gently lift it upwards until it is upside down. The twig will usually break free easily. You can also twist the fruit upwards and to one side.

Control Insects

If you have struggled with any type of pests through the spring, now is a great time to start treating your trees. Many pests have laid their eggs already to hatch in the spring, but you can treat your trees and get the problem taken care of before it becomes an issue.

Check the Stakes

If you have trees that are staked, now is a great time to check to see if they are still well set and vertical. Summer months are filled with growth and taking on weight from the fruit load, meaning that your stakes can loosen in the ground.

Are you looking for certain products to aid in the health and care of your fruit trees? At Camdenton Farm and Garden we have many products that can help your trees continue their growth and help prevent pests from taking advantage of them. Not to mention, our employees are filled with knowledge if you have questions about your fruit trees. Come in and see us with your questions! Who knows, you may even get to talk to the Plant Doctor!